Electrical service disconnect boxes for conveying power to adjacent electrical appliances such as air conditioners

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a device which facilitates electrical wiring and equipment costs for electricians installing disconnect boxes, typically in the vicinity of an outside air conditioner unit. Thus, an improved disconnect box for protection of an electrician who is servicing an electrical appliance such as an outside air conditioner is provided which incorporates an integrally mounted auxiliary electric socket accessory giving the electrician a source of power for use while the electrician is safely assured that there is no power connected to the electrical appliance being serviced. The auxiliary electrical socket accessory may optionally be connected to a power line source as a full time electric plug outlet or one only accessible when the disconnect box is conditioned to disconnect power from the electrical appliance. Provisions are made for protection of the electrical socket accessory with fusing or circuit breaker protection and ground fault protected electrical input wiring to the electrical socket. The disconnect box is preferably weatherproofed for outside use to serve as a common housing for waterproofing the electrical socket. By provision of the improved disconnect box, the electrician can more efficiently install an auxiliary access socket for use of the electrician when the electrical appliance is disconnected either in retrofit or initial installations.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to electrical wiring accessories, and moreparticularly it relates to electrical service disconnect boxes havingdisconnect switches, such plug blocks manually pulled by an attendingelectrician, for interrupting power conveyed to electrical appliances,such as air conditioners, when being serviced.

BACKGROUND ART

The installation of auxiliary electrical plugs in a locationfacilitating use of an electrician during servicing an electricalappliance, typically an outside air conditioner unit, either in aninitial installation or a retrofit installation, takes considerableelectrician time and equipment cost. Thus, it is required toconveniently locate the auxiliary electrical plug accessory, to installa weatherproof housing upon a masonry wall, or the like, and to makeinteracting electrical connections such as installation of new groundfault protected wiring lines to the plug accessory.

There is not any off-the-shelf electrical accessory currently availableto aid the electrician in this special task.

Accordingly it is an objective of this invention to resolve the priorart problem and to reduce the electrician's time and equipment costs ina manner that the electrician is conveniently provided with anelectrical plug accessory that is safe, simpler to install andconsistent with applicable electrical wiring code requirements.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This invention incorporates a service plug accessory for theelectrician's use while servicing a disconnected electrical appliance,such as an outside air conditioner installation, into an improvedservice disconnect box. This resolves the problem of installing aseparate outside weatherproofed service plug in a convenient locationadjacent the electrical appliance where the service disconnect box islocated.

For initial installations the step of preparing a site, andinterconnecting wiring from the service plug to the service disconnectbox are eliminated to facilitate installation at lower cost of bothelectrician's time and the equipment necessary for provision of aservice plug for the electrician to use when servicing the airconditioner.

Similarly for retrofit installations the step of preparing a site andinterconnecting the wiring is eliminated when the improved servicedisconnect box of this invention is available to replace the initiallyinstalled block with less electrician time and labor, which is asignificant part of the installation cost.

Thus, the improved service disconnect box has integrally mounted andwired therein the service plug accessory which the electrician may usewhen the air conditioner is disconnected from the source of electricalpower, typically by manual removal of a plug by the servicingelectrician when a cover access door is opened.

The plug accessory in the service disconnect box can be configured andwired into service in several optional embodiments. One preferredembodiment has a ground fault electric service wiring connection from apower line source through a circuit protected by a breaker or fuse,typically of 15 or 20 ampere capacity, which connection is isolated fromthe incoming electrical power lines for powering the electricalappliance load, namely an air conditioner, or the like.

Another embodiment has the auxiliary service plug wired from theincoming electrical power lines for powering the electrical applianceload, already provided for in routine prior art service disconnectboxes. This internal service disconnect box wiring optionally has eithera full time live wired plug circuit connection or a plug circuitconnection wired through a switch actuatued only when the disconnectplug is removed and there is no power available in the electricalappliance such as an air conditioner.

Furthermore the auxiliary electrical plug circuit available for theelectrician's use may be structurally mounted within the servicedisconnect box with access only when an access door is opened for thepurpose of removing the disconnect link or block to disconnect the airconditioner. Alternatively the auxiliary electrical serviceman's plugmay be mounted upon the box in a configuration protecting the plug foroutside weather, but electrically connected whether or not thedisconnect link is removed to remove electrical power from theelectrical utility device.

Other features, advantages and objectives of the invention will be foundthroughout the following specification, drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference charactersrepresent similar features throughout the various views:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of a state of the prior artconfiguration of a service disconnect system for an air conditioner unitwith an associated electrical service outlet for use by a electrician atthe air conditioner site;

FIG. 2 is an embodiment of this invention displaying a servicedisconnect box for an electrical appliance, typically an airconditioner, providing for use of an electrician servicing theelectrical appliance an electrical outlet service plug structurallymounted for use when the access cover is opened;

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of an electrical wiring embodimentafforded by this invention providing isolated incoming electrical wiringto the electrical outlet service plug;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electrical circuits and servicedisconnect box structure of an alternative embodiment of the inventionwherein a full service weatherproofed electric service plug ispositioned on the outer surface of the service disconnect box forgeneral use; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmental drawing of a disconnect plug circuit afforded bya further embodiment of this invention to connect the service plugoutlet by wiring within the disconnect box to the power line source foran air conditioner appliance.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now with reference to the accompanying drawings, the state of the priorart disconnect box systems is seen from FIG. 1. The service disconnectbox 15 is mounted upon a building wall 16, typically masonry, to providea safety disconnect link assuring that the electrical power from lines17 to the air conditioner unit 18 is off when the electrician needs toservice that unit. Thus the box 15 and the input appliance power lines19 from a suitable source such as properly ground fault protected linesfrom a breaker or fuse box inside the building, are appropriatelyaffixed to the wall 16 in accordance with the requirements of localelectrical wiring codes.

Since the disconnect box 15 isolates the air conditioner unit 18 fromthe possibility of having any live power lines therein, there is noelectrical ac source of power for the servicing electrician to use inthe servicing process to power instruments, tools, flashlights and thelike. Thus, the electrician either needs to install on the wall 16 anelectrical service socket outlet 20 in a convenient location for accesswhen servicing the air conditioner unit 18, or to run a cable from someexisting outside weather protected electrical service socket, or througha window, etc. from an inside-the-building electrical socket.

The cost of installing the electrical service socket outlet 20 is high.Typically, in a brick wall 16, a mounting site must be prepared,possibly by a mason, and the incoming wires 20 must be connected from aremote fuse or breaker center, and the electrical outlet must be of theweatherproofed nature to withstand outdoor environment. Those problemsare resolved by this invention, which as will later become evidentfacilitates the installation and reduces the equipment cost forsupplying local electric service sockets at the air conditioner site foruse of an electrician servicing the air conditioner.

Now with reference to the structure of the service disconnect box 25 inFIG. 2 and the block electric circuit diagram of the service disconnectbox wiring system of the FIG. 3 embodiment, the improvements of thedisconnect box structure and electrical circuitry afforded by thisinvention are set forth.

The improved electric service disconnect box for disconnecting electricpower from an adjacent electrical appliance has structurally mountedthereon the electrical service output socket accessory mountedoptionally either as internally mounted electrical socket 30, orexternally mounted socket 30'.

When the electrical socket accessory 30 is mounted, for example upon aninternal panel 26 accessible inside the weatherproof housing 27 suitablefor outdoor locations when the protective access cover 28 is manuallyopened and the typical disconnect plug 29 is removed to assure thatthere are no live power connections to the air conditioning unit 18. Inthis installation, the socket accessory 30 need not of itself be adaptedto withstand the outside weather environment.

The disadvantage of this internal configuration (30) of the electricalsocket accessory, is that it cannot be used for any other use than as aservice socket for repair of the air conditioner unit 18. Thus, theexternal configuration (30') provides the electrical socket accessory asa weatherproofed configuration located on an outer wall 31 of theservice disconnect box 25, where it is available at all times for usessuch as with electrical lawn trimmers, or the like.

The internally disposed electrical circuit conduit means for conveyingcurrent from the appliance power line source 31 through incomingelectrical supply wires 19 to output wires 17 in the embodiment of FIG.3 need not be modified, when the isolated power ground fault connectedpower line source 35 is connected into the service disconnect box 25 asshown at 36. Note that preferably the electrical service socketaccessory 30 is supplied with a local circuit breaker, reset by button37. This isolated power line source 35 then becomes available forhandling the power requirements of any servicing equipment used by theelectrician during repairs and inspection of the air conditioner unit18, without addition of current carrying capacity of the appliance powerline source to handle surplus power above the peak load necessary tostart an air conditioner compressor for example.

In the FIG. 4 embodiment, the service socket accessory is mounted on theoutside of the service disconnect box 25 cabinet walls, and is protectedby a conventional weatherproofing cap for outside use. Either inside theservice disconnect box or in the socket 30' assembly structure ismounted a fuse or breaker unit 40 for fusing protection of the serviceoutlet socket.

By way of bosses or wire connector terminals 41, the incoming powerlines 19 are branched to provide electrical connections within thedisconnect box 25 to connect electrical wiring to power the electricsocket accessory 30' from said incoming electrical wiring 19 forpowering the air conditioner, or other electrical appliance.

One significant advantage of this embodiment is that to retrofit aservice outlet socket 30 at an air conditioner site outside a building,for example, it may be quite inconvenient and expensive to find aninstallation site for an outside weatherproof socket accessory. ThisFIG. 4 service disconnect box 25 as a unit therefore could besubstituted for a conventional prior art type of disconnect box 15(FIG. 1) with very little wiring and site preparation labor involved,thereby making it simpler to upgrade existing locations.

In the fragmental view of the disconnect plug variation 29' of FIG. 5, afurther embodiment of the invention is seen that comprises an electricalthree ganged, double throw switch 50 is connected in said electricalconnections between the incoming electrical wiring for said electricalappliance and the electrical plug accessory at the aforesaid terminals41', for example, thereby to connect electrical power to said electricalplug accessory only when the manual disconnect means is operable todisconnect power from the electrical appliance. The detent spring 51, orequivalent friction mount, holds the disconnect plug 29' normally in itsstable downward position noted by arrowheads 52 to connect terminals 41'to the air conditioner for normal operation thereof.

Conversely in the safety position, as shown, with the disconnect plug29' pulled, the switch 50 is spring biassed to normally return to theuppermost position shown to connect the electrical power to theelectrical service socket outlet accessory. Thus, the electrical serviceoutlet can only be used to withdraw current from the appliance powerline source (31) when the air conditioner is out of service.

It is evident therefore from the foregoing specification that thisinvention has improved the state of the art. Accordingly those featuresof novelty believed representative of the spirit and nature of theinvention are defined with particularity in the following claims.

I claim:
 1. In a weather protected electric service disconnect box foroutside use with a protective access cover and internally disposedelectrical circuit conduit means for conveying current from incomingelectrical supply wires to output wires for powering an adjacentelectrical appliance and further comprising manual disconnect means formanually disconnecting the internal electrical circuit for ascertainingthat power cannot be connected to the electrical appliance while beingserviced, the improvement comprising in combination:said incomingelectrical supply wires comprising ground fault protected wiring lines,an electrical socket accessory connected to said ground fault protectedwiring lines internally disposed in said disconnect box and mountedstably upon the disconnect box for use of an electrician servicing theelectrical appliance, to thereby afford an on-site electric serviceoutlet for said service appliance at the disconnect box, and circuitbreaker means connected with and located upon said electrical socketaccessory to fuse output power available from the electrical socketaccessory.
 2. In a weather protected electric service disconnect box foroutside use with a protective access cover and internally disposedelectrical circuit conduit means for conveying current from incomingelectrical supply wires to output wires for powering an adjacentelectrical appliance and further comprising manual disconnect means formanually disconnecting the internal electrical circuit for ascertainingthat Power cannot be connected to the electrical appliance while beingserviced, the improvement comprising in combination:said incomingelectrical supply wires comprising around fault protected wiring lines,an electrical socket accessory connected to said around fault protectedwiring lines internally disposed in said disconnect box and mountedstably upon the disconnect box for use of an electrician servicing theelectrical appliance, to thereby afford an on-site electric serviceoutlet for said service appliance at the disconnect box, and electricalconnections within the disconnect box to connect electrical wiring topower the electrical socket accessory from said incoming electricalwiring for said electrical appliance.
 3. The improvement of claim 2further comprising an electrical switch connected in said electricalconnections between the incoming electrical wiring for said electricalappliance and the electrical socket accessory to connect electricalpower to said electrical socket accessory only when the manualdisconnect means is operable to disconnect power from the electricalappliance.
 4. An improved weather protected electric service disconnectbox for use in an outside atmosphere to disconnect electric power froman adjacent electrical appliance when servicing that appliance,comprising in combination:a weatherproof housing for outdoor locationshaving a protective access cover manually accessible for internalaccess, around fault connected internally disposed electrical circuitconduit means for conveying current from incoming electrical supplywires to output wires for powering a separately located electricalappliance, manual disconnect means for manually disconnecting theinternal electrical circuit for ascertaining that power cannot beconnected to the electrical appliance while being serviced, anelectrical socket accessory mounted stably upon the disconnect box foruse of an electrician servicing the electrical appliance and connectedto said around fault connected incoming power lines by wiring internallydisposed in said disconnect box, and circuit breaker means connectedwith and located on said electrical socket accessory to fuse outputpower available from the electrical socket accessory.
 5. An improvedweather protected electric service disconnect box for use in an outsideatmosphere to disconnect electric power from an adjacent electricalappliance when servicing that appliance, comprising in combination:aweatherproof housing for outdoor locations having a protective accesscover manually accessible for internal access, ground fault connectedinternally disposed electrical circuit conduit means for conveyingcurrent from incoming electrical supply wires to output wires forpowering a separately located electrical appliance, manual disconnectmeans for manually disconnecting the internal electrical circuit forascertaining that power cannot be connected to the electrical appliancewhile being serviced, an electrical socket accessory mounted stably uponthe disconnect box for on-site use of an electrician servicing theelectrical appliance and connected to said ground fault connectedincoming power lines by wiring internally disposed in said disconnectbox, and electrical connections within the disconnect box to connectelectrical wiring to power the electrical socket accessory from saidincoming wiring for said electrical appliance.
 6. The disconnect box ofclaim 5 further comprising an electrical switch connected in saidelectrical connections between the incoming electrical wiring for saidelectrical appliance and the electrical socket accessory to connectelectrical power to said electrical socket accessory only when themanual disconnect means is operable to disconnect power from theelectrical appliance.